Page 34 of New Year with the Cartel

"It means we need to talk," he interrupted, but gently. "About everything, but most importantly, our future. And first..." He pulled me closer, protective but not possessive. "First, we need to deal with Rodriguez. You and me together this time. I want someone I can fully trust by my side."

I nodded, understanding that there was still a lot of progress to be made. We had a long way to go—trust wasn't built in a single firefight, and old habits wouldn't die easily. But for the first time since the golf course, since my confinement, I felt a shred of hope.

Our baby kicked again, strong and insistent, as if agreeing. Maybe that's what the necklace had been trying to tell us all along. True power, true bonds, couldn't be forced or controlled.

They had to be chosen, freely and with trust.

Now we just had to figure out how to do that while surviving Rodriguez's next move.

Chapter 18

Fendwyr

The reports on my desk painted a grim picture, one I thought would never happen. Three more lieutenants had disappeared overnight, taking significant portions of our operation with them. Motherfuckers.

That made twelve in total since Rodriguez's attack. Twelve trusted men who'd apparently never been trustworthy at all. Who else was with him and betraying me?

I rubbed my temples, fighting a headache. Gustall sat across from me, reviewing personnel files. We'd moved him from the secure room to our actual bedroom, though my instincts screamed to lock him away somewhere safer. But I had promised to try. To trust.

Somethings about me would never change, but I was aware of them now. I was going to do things differently this time.

"Jake's clean," Gustall said, setting aside another file. I trusted his judgment. "He's been approached by Rodriguez's people three times and refused each offer."

"How can you be sure?" The words came out harsher than intended. Old habits.

Despite trusting his judgment, I still needed to understand his thought process. There was no such thing as being too cautious.

Instead of flinching, Gustall met my gaze steadily. "Because unlike you, I actually talk to the staff. They trust me because I don't treat them like possessions."

That stung, but he wasn't wrong. I'd spent years building walls, maintaining distance, exerting control. I'd always thought that was the right way to lead, but now...

"Boss." David, one of my few remaining trusted men, entered without knocking. His face was pale. "You need to see this."

He handed me a tablet. A video was already playing—security footage from one of our warehouses. I recognized Elena, an omega who'd worked for me five years ago. I'd kept her confined to the compound when she'd tried to leave, claiming it was for her protection. She'd eventually escaped, but not before...

"Turn it off," I growled, but Gustall reached across the desk and took the tablet. I really didn't want him to see the footage, but it was too late for that now.

"No," he said firmly. "We need to see this."

The footage continued. Elena spoke directly to the camera, detailing everything I'd done. The control, the manipulation, the psychological torture disguised as protection. Rodriguez stood beside her, playing the role of sympathetic listener.

He loved what was happening. He relished the fact that he could get under my skin and make me look like a fool. But once I had him pinned beneath me, all of that would come to an end.

"He'll do it again," Elena's voice cracked. "He's doing it right now, to his own mate. Because he can't help himself. It's who he is."

I wanted to deny it, to rage against the accusation. But the evidence was right there—Gustall's recent confinement proved her words true. Dammit. I needed to be better.

"There's more," David said quietly. "Rodriguez has been showing these testimonials to our people for months. Elena, Elias, others... They all tell similar stories."

"And our people believed them," I concluded. The betrayals made sense now. My own reputation, my past actions, had given Rodriguez the perfect weapon against me.

"They believed them because they're true." Gustall's voice was gentle but firm. "They've seen how you treat omegas. How you treated me, but you can change and be better."

I stood abruptly, needing to move, to think. The walls of my office felt suffocating. "I was protecting—"

"Stop." Gustall's command surprised us both. "Stop hiding behind that excuse. You weren't protecting anyone. You were controlling us because you were afraid. That's what was really happening and you need to admit it."

"Afraid?" I turned on him, anger flaring. "I'm not—"

---